Type setting and distributing indicator



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. B. ODELL. TYPE SETTING AND DISTRIBUTING INDICATOR. No. 392,358. Patented Nov. 6, 1888.

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(No Model.)

J. B. ODELL. yTYPE SETTING AND DISTRIBUTING INDIGATUR. No. 392,358.

Patented Nov. 6, 1888.

UNITED STAT-ns PATENT OFFICE. A

JOHN ODELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE PRINTING TELEGRAPH COMPANY OF ILLINOIS.

TYPE SETTING AND DISTRIBUTING INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,358, dated November 6. 1888- Applica-tion filed August 22, 1887. Serial No. 247,532.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN B. ODELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type Setting and Distributing Indicators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to the work of composing and distributing matter in the art of printing, and, having for its object to so facilitate and simplify such work that unskilled labor may be employed therein, consists in the matters hereinafter set forth,and pointed out in the appended claim.

My present invention embraces the employment, in combination with' a subdivided typeholder or compositors case, of mechanicaldevices operatively arranged and adapted to indicate the types to be successively taken from the said holder or oase or distributed therein by the compositor inthe work of setting up or distributing matter. visions of the said holder or case is provided with an indicator capable of being moved from its normal position through the action of a key forming part of a key-board located adjacent to said case and connected therewith. The said keys respectively represent the particular types for which each subdivision of the holder or case is provided, andare 4intended to be successively manipulated by an operator (before whom the copy is placed) similarly after the manner of manipulating the keyboard of a type-writing machine. In practice, as each indicator is raised in similar order, the compositor takes from or deposits a type within each particular subdivision indicated, at the same time carrying the indicator back toits normal or operative position. In the work of composing it is only necessary for him to pick up the types and place the same within his stick77 in the order in which the indicators are caused to be raised, and in distributing he deposits the type within the subdivisions, and in the order indicated, from matter usually held within his hand. The

Each of the type-subdip (No model.)

preferred manner of practically carrying out my said invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in perspective illustrating the type-holder B sustained by a frame, A, which contains the indicator-operating mechanism. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken vertically through the said frame and type-holder, illust-rating the operative arrangement of the keys and indicators. Fig. 3 is abroken plan view particularly intended to illustrate the arrangement laterally of the keyarms within the frame A. Fig. 4 isan enlarged detail intended to lillustrate the operative arrangement and connection of the keys and indicators. Fig. 5 is a plan view ofthe indicator, the same being shown detached from the type-holder D.

Referring to the several figures of the drawings in detail, within the frame A a series of key-levers, C, vibratorily held by bearings c, are provided at one end each with a stem, o', having at its extremity a knob, c2, which represents the type intended to be contained within one of the subdivisionsof the case B,which is sustained by said frame A. The other end of each of said key-levers operatively connects with a movable rod, C', which passes `through the body of said case to operative connection with an indicator device, D, desirably attached thereto. The end of the said rod C opposite its point of connection with' said key-lever is adapted to engage with and raise a movable plate, d, forming .part of the said indicator D when actuated by the keylever C through the downward movement of the key-stem and knob c ci. When theknob is freed from the pressure manifestly applied to operate the key, the said rod, being provided with a spring resistance, e, which tends to hold it in a direction from the said plate, returns to its normal position, as shown in Fig. 4. The spring e upon the rod C likewise extending through said rod, which is intended to be in constant engagement with the end of the keylever C, a downward tension upon the end of the said lever serves to depress the engaging end of the said lever, and thus keep its 'oppo-v site or knob end in raised operative position. The indicator device D, which is desi-'ably IOC xed to the body ofthe case B, I prefer to construct and operate as follows: The movable plate d is pivotally connected to a lower section7 d', which is fixed to the case B. rlhe bearingspt of the said two sections are so arranged with relation to each other, as shown in Fig. 5, that a coiled spring', all, located around the securing-pin digexerts a strain laterally upon plate (l in the direction of and against the section il'. Vhen the plate has been moved from its normal position through the action of the rod C',thc strain ofthe spring ilbringingabout considerable friction between the bearing portions of the two parts cl d', causes the plate l to remain iu its raised position after the rod C has returned to its original position and until moved to its normal or l closed position by the compositor, who would i ordinarily push the same down in picking up or distributing the type.

Having thus sufiiciently described my invention, Ielaim as new and desire to secure by the respective subdivisions thereof, and a corresponding system of keys mechanically connected with said indicators andadapted to operate the same, substantially as herein described.

JOII'N l. Olllll/L.

\Vitnesses:

(menen W. Ln VIN,

F. l?. nYNoLDs. 

